Albert Frere was a Belgian businessman

 

Albert Frere was a Belgian businessman who was born on February 4, 1926, in Fontaine-l'Eveque, Belgium. He passed away on December 3, 2018, at the age of 92. He is widely recognized as one of the most successful businessmen in Belgium, and he made his fortune through investments in steel, oil, and banking.

Frere started his career as a stockbroker in the 1950s, and he quickly made a name for himself as a shrewd investor. In the 1960s, he began to invest heavily in the steel industry, and he eventually became the largest shareholder of the Belgian steel company, Cockerill-Sambre. He also invested in the Belgian energy company, Petrofina, and the French bank, Societe Generale.

Throughout his career, Frere was known for his ability to identify undervalued companies and invest in them before their value increased. He was also a skilled negotiator, and he was able to acquire controlling stakes in several companies through a combination of strategic investments and boardroom maneuvering.

Frere was a major philanthropist in Belgium, and he donated millions of euros to a variety of causes, including education, culture, and the arts. He also founded the Fondation P&J Guillaume, a charity that supports social and cultural projects in Belgium.

At the time of his death, Frere was estimated to have a net worth of around $6 billion, according to Forbes. He was ranked as the richest person in Belgium and one of the wealthiest people in Europe.

Some of Frere's notable achievements include:

Building up Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, a holding company that owns significant stakes in a number of major European companies, including Total, Adidas, and Pernod Ricard.

Acquiring a controlling stake in the Swiss mining company, Glencore, in the early 2010s.

Serving as a member of the board of directors of a number of major companies, including GDF Suez (now Engie), Imerys, and Pargesa.

One interesting fact about Albert Frere is that he was a close friend of the Belgian royal family, and he was often seen at high-society events with members of the royal family